CHINA: DROUGHT LEAVES NEARLY 6 MILLION LACKING WATER

Guest Wed 07 Aug 2013, 08:47

Drought in China leaves nearly 6 million lacking water

Published: Aug. 5, 2013 at 5:01 PM

BEIJING, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- A drought has left nearly 6 million people without water in 13 provincial-level areas in China, the Ministry of Civil Affairs reported Monday.

About 4.3 million of the 5.95 million people affected by the drought, which has continued since mid-June reside in Guizhou and Hunan provinces, the ministry said.

More than 4 million people were in need of government assistance, the Chinese news agency Xinhua reported Monday.

The report said the drought has caused direct economic losses of 12.1 billion yuan ($1.98 billion) and affected 2.09 million hectares (5,164,502 acres) of farmland, leaving 350,00 hectares (864,868 acres) a total loss.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2013/08/05/Drought-in-China-leaves-nearly-6-million-lacking-water/UPI-84331375736510/#ixzz2bIXp02DA